The Life of Prophet Muhammad - by Sheikh Azhar Nasser

This lecture covers how the prophet changed Yathrib's name to Medina, the rise of hypocrisy in Medina as political expediency caused people to convert without having any Islamic conviction, the first time Muslims were given permission to fight and why it was granted, and the first five military expeditions of the Muslims.

Practical Lessons:
 1. No victory comes with ease. Even prophets must sacrifice, face challenges, and fail before attaining victory.
 2. God isn't biased towards Muslims. When Muslims violated the sanctity of the sacred months, they were condemned.
 3. Lead by example
 4. Stick with your pledges.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=440.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmX5uGS4ihs&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT.

The Prophet Muhammad had been invited to Medina to quell tensions in the city. With a few months of arriving, he created a social contract between the different tribes in they city, specifying the behaviors expected from each group: Ansar, Muhajireen, Jews, and Polythiests

Practical Lessons:
1. The importance of writing down contracts. This was an unprecedented move by the Prophet since Arabia was mostly an oral culture and agreements were usually oral. But to avoid any confusion and disagreements he insisted on putting this in writing
2. The great respect Islam has for monotheistic traditions. Prophet granted the Jews a great deal of autonomy and independence provided that they didn't betray the Muslims
3. All people were accountable before the law, regardless of if you're Muslim or not. Being Muslim doesn't get you off the hook
4. The Prophet accepted the legal norms and customs (urf) of every tribe, as long as they didn't conflict with the laws of the sharia. Just because we want to follow Islam, it doesn't mean cultural norms and practices should be abolished provided they don't violate Islamic laws.

Lecture notes available at http:///why-quran.org/blog/tag/life-of-prophet-muhammad.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlsSgEO9vPM&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT.

After Prophet Muhammad settled in Abu Ayyub al-Ansari's home in Medina, he purchased the lot next to it and started building a masjid there. This became known as Al Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) and Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque). Azan was legislated soon after, and within half a year after hijra the Second Pact of Brotherhood was made between the Muhajireen and Ansaar.

Practical Lessons:
- 1. The pact of brotherhood endured. The prophet would assign a brother/sister to a new convert throughout the Madani period. From this we can extrapolate the importance of looking after the needs of new converts.
- 2. A brotherhood based on faith is the strongest from of brotherhood. Quran 59:9 describes the ansaar's generosity, saying that when they give to the muhajireen they don't feel any attachment to what they're giving, and those who are protected from the stinginess of the soul will be successful
- 3. Brotherhood and unity isn't just rhetoric. The prophet turned it into action
- 4. Islamic laws were gradually introduced to the community. We need to do a similar thing with our communities and families today, so that it's done in a way that will be gradual and well received


Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/blog/31-building-the-prophets-mosque-masjid-al-haram/

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO1Yfm3X-SY&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT.

Prophet Muhammad's arrival in Quba, the building of the Quba Masjid, and how Prophet Muhammad let Allah guide him through his camel to find a place to stay at in Medina, with the camel stopping  at Abu Ayyub al Ansari's home. Lecture by Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/blog/30-hijra-the-first-masjid/

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/uWgHE4DaJ60

When Prophet Muhammad learned about the assassination plot against him, he choose his most trustworthy companion to be the decoy: Ali ibn Abi Talib. Why did Abu Bakr migrated with the Prophet? Sunni vs Shia views on the merits of the Quranic verse on Abu Bakr during this hijrat (Quran 9:40), and the first instance of enmity towards the prophet expressed by Abu Bakr. By Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/blog/29-hirja-abu-bakr-ali-and-prophet-muhammad/.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWBwdei29qE&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT&index=29

Medina (Yathrib) was ideally suited to be the new home to the Prophet's message. This lecture describes what it was that made Medina a good location, the gradual emigration of Muslims to Medina along with the challenges they faced, the first of the two brotherhood pacts made by the muslims, and the plot to assissinate the prophet. By Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/blog/28-hijra-to-medina-and-an-assassination-attempt

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT. 

Medina (Yathrib) was in the middle of the civil war, when one of the factions was introduced to the Prophet Muhammad. The encounter left two men captivated, and gradually more and more people became enamored by his message. All in strict secrecy. By Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at why-quran.org/blog/tag/life-of-prophet-muhammad.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available here. 

Before the Prophet Muhammad's hijra to Medina, he first tried migrating to other cities. Here's what happened.

By Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at why-quran.org/blog/tag/life-of-prophet-muhammad.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT

The Quraysh boycott Bani Hashim, demanding they hand over Prophet Muhammad. By Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at why-quran.org/blog/tag/life-of-prophet-muhammad.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available here. 

The Prophet Muhammad visits Bayt al-Ma'mur, the rivers Kawthar and Rahmah during meraj, and the lote tree Sidratul Muntaha, by Sheikh Azhar Nasser

Lecture notes available at why-quran.org/blog/tag/life-of-prophet-muhammad.

Subscribe to watch the lectures live and participate in the Q&A at the end of each class.

Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available here.